Hue’s elevation to a centrally-governed municipality from early 2025 has taken place in a special context: the country is undergoing a major administrative restructuring, reducing the number of provinces and cities from 63 to 34. While 52 other localities are expanding through mergers, Hue has chosen a different path - no consolidation, no expansion by aggregation, but an upgrade built on its existing identity and structural foundation.

On the morning of February 27, Hue Central Hospital held a ceremony marking the 71st anniversary of Vietnamese Doctors’ Day (February 27, 1955 - February 27, 2026).

On the Lantern Festival (the Full Moon of the First Lunar Month) more than 15 years ago, the most “pure Hue native” friend I know, architect Nguyen Trong Huan, and I put on thin raincoats and walked together through the light, drifting drizzle to search for Hue’s culinary specialties. Having lived in this city for many years, Huan still longed for the flavors he once tasted.

Hue is leveraging its advantages in location, infrastructure, as well as special mechanisms and policies to step-by-step establish itself as a commercial hub of the Central region; in which, trade and services are identified as key drivers of growth in the coming period.

Such is the theme of a special exhibition held by Hue City History Museum to commemorate the 96th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam (February 3rd, 1930 - February 3rd, 2026) and to celebrate the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026. The exhibition opens to the public on February 3rd.

With the desire to present readers a unique and engaging publication on the eve of the Spring of the Year of the Horse 2026, Hue Newspaper and Radio - Television is proud to release a special edition of Hue Today themed “Spring Buds”.

The Cooperative Fair, held by the City Cooperative Alliance over two days, January 17 -18, at the Cooperative Economy Platform (16 Nguyen Luong Bang, Thuan Hoa Ward), was not only a shopping destination, but also a vital bridge bringing clean agricultural produce, OCOP products, and local specialties closer to consumers, contributing to spreading the value of the collective economy and building trust in local agricultural products.

In 2026, Hue City Museum of History aims to conduct surveys, research and upgrade 2 dossiers for nomination as special national relics, and prepare 8 new dossiers to request recognition as city-level relics.

The agricultural fairs and highland markets organized by the City Farmers’ Association toward the end of 2025 have contributed to introducing and promoting local agricultural products that meet VietGAP and OCOP standards, as well as specialty products of ethnic minority communities in mountainous areas, giving them greater opportunities to reach wider markets.

The year 2026, the first year of implementing Resolution 72-NQ/TW on breakthrough solutions for protecting and improving public health, marks a new turning point for healthcare in Hue City. Building on the strong foundation of Hue Central Hospital, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University; and a primary healthcare system undergoing comprehensive reform, Hue is steadily affirming its position as a center for advanced, specialized medical care, with a vision toward becoming a regional hub in Southeast Asia.